Ukip won’t fight against Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park by-election as they ‘admire’ his resignation over Heathrow Airport
Supporters of the anti-EU party are being encouraged to vote for the former Tory MP who is standing as an independent
UKIP have decided not to field a candidate in the Richmond by-election, as they "admire" Zac Goldsmith for resigning from the party "on a matter of principle".
Mr Goldsmith, who is running as an independent, announced his resignation as a Tory MP earlier this week in protest at the government's decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
In an official statement, a Ukip spokesman said: "Zac Goldsmith has resigned on a matter of principle and Ukip admire him for having the courage to do so.
"Ukip have always believed that Gatwick was a preferred option to Heathrow.
"Recognising Zac as a principled man, who was fully committed to helping get Britain out of the European Union, Ukip leader Nigel Farage, in conjunction with our National Executive Committee have agreed that we will not be fielding a candidate in the upcoming by-election for Richmond Park.
"Ukip are encouraging all of our supporters and voters to support Zac Goldsmith in his bid to become an independent MP."
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It came as the Lib Dems, who are widely seen as Mr Goldsmith's main challenger for the December 1 contest, were forced to suspend ex-Richmond Park MP Baroness Jenny Tonge, who this week campaigned for their candidate Sarah Olney.
The Party was forced to swiftly act after video footage emerged of her thanking someone for anti-Semitic remarks at a pro-Palestinian event she hosted in the Lords.
Gideon Falter, chairman of Campaign against Antisemitism said: "Her ongoing membership of the House of Lords and the Liberal Democrats is a disgrace to both institutions."
Despite Mr Goldsmith winning with a 23,015 majority at the 2015 general election, the party believe they have a chance of winning because of their pro-EU stance and recent strong showing in the Witney by-election, where they slashed the Tory majority in David Cameron's old seat from 25,000 to 5,700 with a 19 per cent swing.
Not too far away from Richmond, Ukip leadership hopeful Raheem Kassam was on the campaign trail in a pub in Westminster insisting he was the "Faragist" candidate before pulling himself a pint of Spitfire and drinking it.
Denying accusations Ukip is far right, Mr Kassam said he wanted a national referendum on banning women wearing the niqab, and said he was the only candidate with the nerve to tackle issues such as "radical Islam, mental health, and the BBC".